Time to batten down the hatches, says warehouse boss

Speaking at UKWA’s awards the lunch, the association’s chief executive said that global political and economic uncertainty allied to societal shifts and changing consumer behaviour is creating “a perfect storm that is driving an unprecedented pace of change within the logistics sector.”

This did though offer “tremendous opportunities for those companies capable of adapting their working practices to the needs of the modern commercial landscape.”

A shortage of new warehousing stock in the right locations, increasing rents, a shrinking labour pool and a transport infrastructure that, in many places, is creaking, means that logistics professionals are under greater pressure than ever to deliver new and innovative solutions that meet the demand for shorter lead times and faster delivery.

Globally, “we have to contend with President Trump’s ‘America First’ policy and all of its serious tariff and anti-trade implications, while in China we’re seeing a massive commitment to invest some $900 million per year in building infrastructure that will allow Chinese goods to reach 65% of the world’s population and 35% of global trade. And, of course, here in Europe against a background of political uncertainty in many countries we are still grappling with the unpredictable fall-out from the Brexit vote.”